# What It Really Takes to Play Baseball at Harvard | Nate Cole

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/patrick-jones-baseball-429997/what-it-really-takes-to-play-baseball-at-harvard-nate-cole
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/patrick-jones-baseball-429997/what-it-really-takes-to-play-baseball-at-harvard-nate-cole.md
Podcast: [Patrick Jones Baseball](https://stenobird.com/podcast/patrick-jones-baseball-429997)
Published: 2026-06-08T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/patrick-jones-baseball/episodes/what-it-really-takes-to-play-baseball-at-harvard-nate-cole
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/5b840a78bdb9804331265f73/e/6a25cbb64330c50bd30e42af/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/patrick-jones-baseball-429997/episodes/what-it-really-takes-to-play-baseball-at-harvard-nate-cole
Duration seconds: 1633

## Resource

In this episode, I sit down with Nate Cole, recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at Harvard University, to talk about what it actually takes to play baseball at one of the most selective schools in the country. Nate walks through Harvard’s recruiting process, what they look for academically, how they evaluate players beyond stats and rankings, and why being a great student alone is not enough to play at the Division 1 level. We also get into the development side of Harvard baseball, including how Nate works with pitchers, how they use technology and data, why some players need more simplicity instead of more information, and what separates players who succeed at the college level. This conversation is especially valuable for players and families who want to understand the balance between academics, baseball ability, work ethic, and finding the right fit in the recruiting process. Topics Covered: What Harvard looks for in baseball recruits How academics filter the recruiting process Why GPA, SATs, and AP classes matter The importance of challenging yourself early in high school How Harvard evaluates players in person Why Harvard recruits nationally for small classes What families misunderstand about Ivy League recruiting Why being “an Ivy League kid” is not specific enough The type of player Harvard baseball wants Why players need to be self-driven How Nate develops pitchers at Harvard Using technology, data, and video in player development Why some players overthink and need to simplify The role of passion, work ethic, and love for baseball How baseball can open academic opportunities The biggest mistakes families make in recruiting Why fit matters more than logos, rankings, or scholarships Follow Nate Cole: X: https://x.com/NateCole33 Check Out Patrick's Stuff: •…

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## Transcript

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